Question:
will there be problems with my diet and diabetes?
i am diabetic and have to keep a certain level of sugar in my system. i am having RNY procedure and i have read that sugar will cause dumping. is this going to be a problem? what side effects can i expect — stephanie E. (posted on September 20, 1999)
September 20, 1999
I am an insulin dependent diabetic that counts my carbs to match my insulin
doses via an insulin pump...I am in the process of starting the ball
rolling for an RNY..keep in mind that almost everything we eat, except some
proteins, include varying degrees of carbs in them....it is the total
amount of carbs we have to watch...that is why we read labels to see the
carbs in the foods we eat. Carbs are converted to glucose in the blood via
digestion....it is that level of glucose that we monitor by finger
sticks... if that level is too low, due to not enough food/too much insulin
or medication, we become hypoglycemic...there is too little glucose in the
blood. That is a horrible feeling, in my opinion, and one I try my best to
avoid. Usually any reading below 65 is considered hypoglycemic. Now, once
we have this surgery we will consume less food and less carbs..decreasing
our very need for medications ( such as insulin or oral meds ). I can only
make an educated guess that the sudden drop in weight will bring about a
need to adjust medications..this is the time frame that I feel will
probably increase our chances of a hypo episode. I will probably be testing
my blood more often and keeping an eye on the amount of insulin I use. I
keep in mind that with the weight I lose, I will need less meds and be in a
better position to keep my sugar levels within normal range...that is the
key to our health, to begin with....you will need to be in close contact
with your Doctors...but all in all, it will be worth it..if you want to
talk, feel free to email me....we have to stick together, ya know! Take
care..Jackie
— Jackie S.
September 20, 1999
I depend on what type of diabetic your are. If you are a type 2 your blood
sugar levels will probably go back to normal very soon. If you are a type 1
you will have to watch them closely. The type of diet you need to follow as
a diabetic is the same one you will need to follow as a post op RNY so I
don't think it will cause any problems. If you have a low episode, you can
get sugar with say lifesavers, and these would not cause dumping. It is
the major stuff like cookies and cake that would cause you to dump.
— JAN C.
September 20, 1999
Hi. I had gastric bypass surgery in Oct. of 1998. I was also diabetic and
my doctor was going to put me on insulin because the pills and my diet were
not controlling it. Since the day of my surgery I have not taken any
medication for diabetes and it is under control. My doctor doesn't believe
it. I couldn't take any pills of any kind for about 4 weeks after surgery
and by the time the surgeon gave me the go ahead to take pills again my
blood sugar readings were so good that my doctor told me they were going to
hold off putting me back on the medication. October 8th will be one year
and I do not have diabetes. I have not had any side effects from not being
able to eat sugar. Anyway, there is a certain amount of sugar in
everything you eat be it natural or otherwise. Good luck.
— Kathy K.
September 20, 1999
I had gastric bypass surgery on July 22nd and WAS diabetic (type II). I no
longer have diabetes! When I went for a checkup after surgery my blood was
checked and levels were normal and still are! I got rid of a lot of
medical problems! I'm down 50 pounds and couldn't be happier!
— VickyTaylor
September 20, 1999
Most patients experience a great improvement in their sugar control after
surgery. If you take insulin or other medication now you will almost
certainly find that you need less of it to maintain a normal or near normal
blood sugar afterward. Yes a large sugar meal will cause dumping which is
unpleasant, but it really shouldn't happen to you if you lower the amount
of diabetic medicine slowly and carefully.
— Bruce B.
September 20, 1999
Hi Stephanie,
I was a diabetic... the key word here being "was". I know we
are all different, but I have not had a shot since two weeks before the
surgery. My sugar now is steady at about a 65. Make sure you speak with
your endocrinologist ... make sure that your medication is adjusted with
your weight and new eating habits. Good Luck!
— Mary Anne M.
September 21, 1999
I beleave you can still get the sugar you need from fruit juices, like
orange juice, as you can usually have up to 8oz a day. Best to check with
a nutritionist who understands your needs now and your situation post-op,
in any case.
— Fran W.
September 21, 1999
Chances are you diabetes will be gone within 30 days. Even so, if you
remain fragile, keep checking your blood. The real reason for avoiding
sugar is that it messes up your wt loss. Dumping is just a PLUS to let you
know you're playing with fire.
— vitalady
April 15, 2000
Even tho' your post-op diet should consist of mainly proteins, you still
have to remember that as a diabetic it's important to include food from all
the food groups in your diet to keep your blood sugar level. I've tried
doing what many other people have suggested by eating my proteins first and
then my veggies/fruits and then my carbs. I also use "combo"
foods like soups and casseroles alot too which combines most of the food
groups into a single serving. It's not healthy for a diabetic, even a
post-op one to completely eliminate any food group from their diet. It
must be working for me, because I'm taking less that half of the diabetic
medication now than I was taking before my surgery. And I'm completely off
of my high blood pressure meds now too. Don't sweat it, but listen to your
doctor and use common sense in your diet choices. Good luck and God
bless.
— cj T.
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